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Taufik obviously had a bigger smash than Tago in their game (despite all the ARC-Z YY hype :-) ).. But it is also blatantly obvious that All the Chineese LN player have bigger smashes these days (LD,Bao,CJ,WZ).. If it is the strength and conditioning program or simply better rackets/strings is hard to know :-)

/Twobeer

from eating Alberta beef, not kobi beef
we export alot of beef to china and korea

I think Taufik still has a very decent smash power. The problem is that he couldn't recover quickly enough and LD countered most of his shots.

That was a pretty hopeless game as much as it seems. TH couldn't take advantage even at the net and he was out-gunned at all departments. Most of the points were from LD errors.

Compared to the past his smash is now getting weaker. At least if i can trust my visible impression from the past video's. Indeed he cannot recover quickly after smashing and this has to do with overall speed which is also getting lower.

Someone wrote his smash speed was over 300 km/h this is obviously not the current speed.

Smashing is not only a matter of speed but also accurately placing the shuttle.

Just watched the second game of TH vs LD match. Both of them were playing pretty badly, it looks like, but Taufik's attack was definitely not sharp enough.

Really? I thought it was quite a strong attempt by Taufik who was trailing 11-6 and overall a fantastic match by both.

The change in tactic from LD in the first match certainly shocked Taufik who'd be used to LD smashing everything he gets his hands on. Interesting to see LD restraining from smashing and literally pulling Taufik apart.

What's more heartening for TH fans is how he did not just give up even from 11-1 down from set 1. TH is still totally outclassed with LD returning just about everything TH threw at him (including many netcords) but what more can a fan ask? I think TH played very well and the better player won.

Compared to the past his smash is now getting weaker. At least if i can trust my visible impression from the past video's. Indeed he cannot recover quickly after smashing and this has to do with overall speed which is also getting lower.

Someone wrote his smash speed was over 300 km/h this is obviously not the current speed.

Smashing is not only a matter of speed but also accurately placing the shuttle.

taufik hold the fastest smash record for single at 318km/h... and backhand around 290km/h

He relies too much on his backhand. Too many rallies where he gets the lift, big smash (always crosscourt from the around-the-head position....too predictable), then a straight netshort. LD then lifts crosscourt back to Taufik's backhand....and Taufik has to do a backhand drop, giving up the attack.

He relies too much on his backhand. Too many rallies where he gets the lift, big smash (always crosscourt from the around-the-head position....too predictable), then a straight netshort. LD then lifts crosscourt back to Taufik's backhand....and Taufik has to do a backhand drop, giving up the attack.

Hidayat's main qualities are his backhand (as he is perhaps most famous for his backhand smash, revered for its unusually high generation of power) forehand jump smash, drop shot (reverse slice in particular), smooth footwork and deceiving net play. Hidayat's forehand jump smash in the 2006 world championships is currently the fastest smash recorded in single's competition. He recorded a 305 kph smash in a match against Ng Wei.
source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taufik_Hidayat

Taufik played really well in the thomas cup, nice to see him try a little for once lol.. however, ran out of steam against the mighty lin dan! dont know why people ever doubted him after the 2 ss disappointments.
However, after watching the thomas cup.. it is inevitable now that TH is past his best whilst LD is getting better if anything.
would love to see the old TH come back though. Fav Player

Taufik played really well in the thomas cup, nice to see him try a little for once lol.. however, ran out of steam against the mighty lin dan! dont know why people ever doubted him after the 2 ss disappointments.
However, after watching the thomas cup.. it is inevitable now that TH is past his best whilst LD is getting better if anything.
would love to see the old TH come back though. Fav Player